Tortuguero Costa

Swim in warm waters, relax on sandy beaches and observe some of the richest wildlife in the world. Costa Rica is covered in protected national parks with an abundance of wildlife, active volcanoes and friendly locals. On this short tour you will get to experience this incredibly diverse country at its best.

About this tour

What you need to know

We will try to run your tour as close to the itinerary as conditions will allow. On very rare occasions, local events may affect the way your itinerary operates. We ask for your flexibility and understanding in these situations.

The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre-tour accommodation. You will meet your Tour Leader on day 2 of the tour in La Fortuna.

This tour includes a compulsory Local Payment that needs to be paid to the Tour Leader on Day 1 of your tour. For more information on our Local Payments please click here.

Itinerary

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Day 1 to 1 - Arrive San José

The capital city of Costa Rica, San José, is nestled in a fertile valley among coffee and sugar-cane farms. There is not much left of the colonial era architecture, due to the damage done by earthquakes, but it is certainly worth seeing the National Theatre, built in 1897. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to catch a performance whilst you're here. The Gold, Jade and National Museums are also particularly recommended for a visit

Please note: On some arrival dates, a hotel representative will be on hand to welcome you. You will meet your tour leader the next day in La Fortuna

Please note: If you are are travelling into Costa Rica from Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama then you will need a valid yellow fever certificate.

Optional Excursions

Accommodation

1 night(s) in hotels at Rosa del Paseo Hotel or similar

Day 2 to 3 - La Fortuna

We travel from the Central Valley to La Fortuna, a sleepy town in the north of Costa Rica. The main attraction in La Fortuna is the nearby Arenal Volcano, which has been constantly erupting since 1968 although is not doing so anymore. After settling into our hotel you'll have time for a leisurely lunch and to explore the town. You can visit the luxuriant local hot springs for a relaxing dip.

There is also plenty of free time to partake in a variety of spectacular and exhilarating optional excursions while in La Fortuna; a visit to the some local waterfalls, caving, rappelling, white water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horse-riding, trekking, biking, and wild-life spotting.

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at Hotel Fortuna or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Day 4 to 5 - Tortuguero

We travel by bus to the port of Moin near Limón, where a boat will be waiting to take us along inland jungle canals and into Tortuguero National Park, located on the Atlantic/Caribbean coast. We spend two nights in a remote jungle lodge, surrounded by wildlife and hiding in the dense vegetation, we are sure to spot a large variety of animals, possibly including monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, turtles, numerous different bird species, and the 'Jesus Lizard' so named because it can walk on water!

While in Tortuguero, with luck we will observe the Green sea turtles which, between July and October, arrive at the beaches to lay eggs in the sand. During the period seven to ten weeks after nesting the turtles hatch which, to witness, is one of life's most inspiring events. There is an interesting visitor's centre in the tiny village where you can watch videos and learn all about the turtles. During our excursions around Tortuguero we may also have the chance to see the tiny but brightly coloured poison arrow frogs.

Included Excursions

Optional Excursions

Accommodation

2 night(s) in hotels at All Rankin Lodge or similar

Meals

1 Breakfast(s)

Day 6 to 7 - Cahuita

We continue on to the small beachside town of Cahuita close to Cahuita National Park. Arriving at lunch time, there is plenty of time to explore one of the Caribbean coasts best national parks. Aside from one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, there is also walkways and trails going out to lookout points. Watch out for monkeys, sloths, lizards, frogs and tonnes of other wildlife. Cahuita is also home to the only coral reefs in the country. The only way to snorkel on the reef is on a guided tour so you can hire a guide locally to take you out onto the reef.

From Cahuita you have the option of taking a short bus journey down the coast to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. This laid-back Caribbean village has some of the best surf in the country and you can hire a bike and cycle to secluded beaches for a spot of sunbathing. From Puerto Viejo you can also visit the Jaguar Centre, a place of rescue and rehabilitation of animals native to Costa Rica. The animals are all nursed back to full health and released back into the wild as soon as possible and depending on what animals they have, you can see sloths, monkeys, birdlife and crocodiles.. From Cahuita we return to San José.

Meals

Other

What's Not Included

International flights to/from the start/end of your tour and departure taxes

Tips on included excursions, visas, travel insurance, personal items and single rooms.

Optional excursions - On each trip, you may find there are some excursions that are not included. This might be because they are not to everyone's taste or there may be various options of differing value to choose from. More information on the excursions we recommend is listed under each day of your itinerary though prices may vary. If you are after something in particular, don't hesitate to ask your tour leader.